Quality public education is at the foundation of the American Dream. In recent years we have seen an under appreciation of teachers, school bus drivers, janitors and support staff. As Nashville booms, too many children are being left behind because of underinvestment in our public schools. Nashville is the “It City,” yet 1 in 5 residents live in poverty. Metro Nashville Public Schools can provide two components of the comprehensive solution to that problem: the highest quality education for all children in Nashville; and quality, middle class jobs for residents who choose to dedicate their lives to that effort.

The Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee would like to thank all of our affiliates that volunteered their time to screen, interview, and deliberate over candidates/endorsements for the upcoming August 4th election. We also would like to thank all of the candidates for their willingness to serve our community. It is after careful deliberation that our central body would like to announce our endorsement and full support of the following candidates.

"Tennessee now has the dubious distinction of being the only state to outlaw cities when they want to spend their own money."

“Having done that, the legislature is now looking to torpedo another idea on which discussions had just started in Nashville: an “inclusionary zoning” ordinance that would require a percentage of new apartment buildings to be priced at below market rates, also common in urban areas where rents are rising quickly

“Worker advocates in Tennessee say that preemption laws have repeatedly stymied some of their most important efforts to tackle poverty and working conditions at the local level. Over the past several years Tennessee’s legislature passed laws banning localities from strengthening the enforcement of wage theft, requiring employers to provide paid sick leave, and mandating prevailing wages”

“You also see measures, for instance in Tennessee, where a city wanted to try to ensure that there were rewards for contractors who employed low-income workers or a small percentage - 10 percent - of low-income workers. That was preempted.”

Tennessee GOP Becomes Their Worst Fear Of Government

Nashville, February 22, 2016

Republicans used to believe in local control. For decades now, Republicans have railed against an overreaching, tyrannical federal government. Yet in Tennessee, where the Republican party has majorities in the House, Senate and hold the Governorship, they have become a the very thing they claim to fear the most, an overreaching government.

State Senator Jack Johnson’s bill to ban “Local Hire” in Nashville overturns the will of more than 56,000 Davidson County voters. Senator Johnson acknowledged this in a recent article in the Tennessean saying:

“Another issue that has been brought in opposition to my bill, which would nullify the charter amendment, is that we are overturning the will of the voters of Nashville,” he said. “In fact we are.” - Sen. Jack Johnson

Davidson County residents passed Amendment 3 to address the systemic poverty that persists amongst its people. The 2014 census reported that 19% of residents in Davidson County live in poverty. In Williamson County, where Senator Johnson lives, only 6% of residents are impoverished.

As Tennessee Republicans add to the growing list of local governance they seek to overturn today, perhaps we should remind them of how they feel about the federal government.

“We cannot allow Congress to trample on our state’s rights and the personal liberties guaranteed by our federal Constitution,” said Senator Johnson. “We must push back against this unprecedented abuse of power or there will be no limits on federal authority in the future.” - Senator Jack Johnson

On Saturday, March 5, 2016, the Central Labor Council of Nashville/Middle TN will host our second annualLabor Fair. The Labor Fair will be held at Nashville Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Center located at 310 Fesslers Lane, Nashville, TN 37210 from 11:00am-1:00pm. All local unions are invited to participate!

The purpose of the Labor Fair is to provide an opportunity for elected officials, candidates and community leaders to become familiar with the issues and concerns of union leaders and their membership, and to see the diversity of union workers that provide skills and services in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

We are asking participating unions to set up a table with information about your union, its work, your apprenticeship program (if applicable), a list of your union contractors (if applicable), and finally a vision statement about your union’s issues, concerns, priorities for Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

This event is designed to begin the relationship building process with public policy makers, and to showcase the world class local workforce our unions represent. Don’t miss this important event. In order to make sure that you are set up and ready to greet our guests on the March 5, please arrive by 10:00am. A short program to start our Labor Fair will begin at 11:00am and refreshments will be served.

Thank you to all of the individuals and organizations that sponsored our 2016 CLC Kick-Off yesterday. It was a great event that exceeded expectations. The Nashville Central Labor Council is ready to take on the challenges of the new year and fight for the working families of Middle Tennessee!